Themes of obsession have long been an integral part of Hollywood media. Characters ignore their loved ones and shed their morals to chase the validation they desperately seek from their idols. A24’s “Friendship” builds upon these themes, tackling the subject with humor instead of sadness.
The film follows Craig Waterman (Tim Robinson), a forlorn suburban father who — with the encouragement of his wife Tami (Kate Mara) — sets out to acquaint himself with his new neighbor, Austin Carmichael (Paul Rudd). At first, Craig and Austin have a seemingly normal, and slightly awkward, meet-up that’s typical of two strangers having their first conversation. But things quickly take a turn when Austin invites Craig on an “adventure.”
The two end up in a sewer system beneath the city, trekking through wet sludge on their way to the city hall. When they arrive, the two climb up to the roof to look at the view, and it’s evident that something has shifted in Craig’s mind.
Desperate to feel this kinship again, Craig goes to great lengths to maintain his relationship with Austin. This starts out relatively tame, with Craig abandoning a work meeting to go foraging for mushrooms with his neighbor. But as their friendship deepens, so does Craig’s desire for human connection.
When Austin invites Craig to meet the rest of his friend group, the gathering seems relatively normal, pervaded with the general awkwardness common in these situations. But other than Craig accidentally shattering Austin’s glass patio door, his behavior is nothing out of the ordinary.
Then the group decides to play a boxing game, and Craig and Austin are selected to duel.
After receiving two painful blows from Austin, Craig seemingly resigns from the match, but just as Austin is getting ready to take off his boxing gear, Craig delivers two sucker punches to Austin’s face. This bizarre action causes the group to ostracize Craig, but for some reason, he doesn’t seem to get the message that he’s unwanted — or maybe he’s just deciding to ignore it.
As the film progresses, audiences watch as Craig attempts to make amends with Austin, spend time with Tami and get closer with his son, Steven (Jack Dylan Grazer). However, Craig is somehow always possessed to make the wrong decisions, making viewers cringe at his incompetence.
Throughout all of the “misfortunes” Craig faces, such as Tami getting lost in the sewers for days after he takes her there, the film’s humor truly shines. It achieves what many comedies are unable to do — constantly eliciting reactions from audiences, from the slightest chuckle to the deepest laughs. Maybe viewers should feel sorry for Craig, but his lack of self-perception, paired with his numerous outbursts over even the slightest of inconveniences, merely compound the film’s comedic tone.
Of course, Robinson delivers a standout performance in the film. His portrayal of Craig adds a dimension of reality to the character. Viewers can almost see the thoughts going through Craig’s head as he continues to destroy his social life. At points, Robinson’s acting doesn’t even feel like acting: We all know a Craig in real life.
Rudd also gives a stellar performance, masterfully portraying both the adventurous side of Austin at the beginning of the film and his subdued, suburban personality after he distances himself from Craig later on.
The film’s cinematography evokes a nostalgic feeling, reminiscent of feel-good childhood films, although the content is far from family friendly. Certain scenes also let audiences view the ensuing events from Craig’s point-of-view — literally. For example, viewers watch through Craig’s eyes as his wife cozies up to her ex-boyfriend (Josh Segarra), prompting extra disbelief when Craig decides to ignore such obvious signs of infidelity.
What, viewers may ask, is the point of this cringefest? “Friendship” doesn’t exactly hand audiences a clear message. But as Craig and Austin share a smile in the final scene, it’s evident that — no matter how far his life devolves — Craig’s obsession with Austin will persist.
The advance screening of this film was part of the 24th Annual Ivy Film Festival. But if you want to experience the painful secondhand embarrassment of watching Craig ruin everything he touches, “Friendship” will be released in theaters across the country starting May 9.
Manav is a junior from Indiana, concentrating in International and Public Affairs. In his free time, he likes attempting the daily Connections puzzle or falling down Wikipedia rabbit holes.
